Kids content startup Kinsane raises $2.5 million from angel investors

By Binu Paul

  • 09 Jan 2018
Credit: Bhakti Nair/VCCircle

Kinsane Entertainment Inc, a startup aimed at creating digital entertainment for children, has raised $2.5 million from a host of angel investors including Zodius Capital founder Neeraj Bhargava.

The company said in a statement that it will use the funds to create a range of videos and games targeting children aged between 2 and 11 years.

Co-founded last year by Kurt Inderbitzin, Indrani Pillai and Saahil Bhargava, Kinsane plans to publish original shows through various mediums including live action, animation, games and books.

The company said it hopes to launch its platform early this year.

“We are seeing major disruptions globally in the digital media space," said angel investor Neeraj Bhargava. "The next leader in content will almost certainly be born digital.”

Headquartered at New York with a unit in Mumbai, Kinsane’s target market will be India, Europe, China, Brazil and UK.

The content will be produced in five languages and distributed through advertising, subscription and transaction-based business models.

Kinsane's plan is to create a range of videos and games featuring original characters that can become global brands and then bolster their presence through non-digital channels such as film, television, concerts and merchandising.

The company aims to launch eight new shows and 100 games featuring 30 characters over the next 12 months.

“Kids can view these amazing characters, laugh and sing with them and even interact with them in games, live action, and animated shows, augmented reality and audio books,” co-founder Inderbitzin said.

Kinsane is entering the segment at a time when digital consumption by children is steadily on the rise.

According to a survey of parents conducted by DHX/IPSOS, 72% of kids across U.S, U.K, and Canada watch content on streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix. YouTube even has a separate 'Kids' platform where it offers digital content for children.